Deadly Crash Results in Misdemeanor Conviction for Owatonna Man

St. Cloud, MN (KROC-AM News) - An Owatonna man has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor traffic offense for causing a deadly crash in St. Cloud last year. 62-year-old James Cockram admitted to a charge of failing to drive with due care through a plea agreement that led to the dismissal of a misdemeanor careless driving charge.

Cockram was driving a semi-truck that smashed into the back of a minivan that had stopped for a red light on Highway 10. The March 18th crash claimed the lives of the driver of the minivan, 66-year-old Thomas Findlay of Sartell, along with one of his passengers, 22-year-old Emily Letourneau of Big Lake.

A witness told the State Patrol that Cockram’s truck appeared to be traveling at “highway speed” and it did not appear that he made any effort to slow down before the deadly collision, which pushed the crumpled van about 450 feet down the highway.

Cockram is scheduled to be sentenced in Stearns County Court on April 6th.

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